Video submissions are due Friday, October 7th, 2011. New ideas to continue to the advancement and ongoing foundation shift in public education are in high demand. LAPCS is requesting 60-second or less video pitches with a plan for how to make Louisiana’s children the most successful students and citizens possible. Videos don’t have to be professionally produced, the organization stresses, “a personal appeal always allows an individual’s passion for their idea to shine through.”

The contest comes at a time when many Louisiana schools are failing. The state released the annual report card for schools throughout the state yesterday, with 44% of schools receiving “D” or “F” letter grades. Governor Bobby Jindal stressed in a press conference that the rate of failure is, “simply not acceptable.”

In New Orleans, education has been turned upside down in recent years with the explosion of charter schools and often confusing mix of school boards and state boards. Even with massive restructuring, New Orleans schools have shown roughly a 49% increase in district-wide performance. In 2005, 71% of schools received a score that would have been an “F.” In the numbers released this week, only 28% received that same failing grade.

With education on such a precipice of massive reforms, now is the time to harness your entrepreneurial ideas and spirit. To enter the LEADPitch competition, upload a video to YouTube or Vimeo, fill out the form here and include your video’s link. If you’re video is one of the top 10 selected, you will be invited to pitch live in front a room full of business and education leaders at the 4th Annual Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference in Baton Rouge.

Generous prizes include $5,000 for the first place winner, $2,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. All three winners will receive additional start-up support from LAPCS. The competition will take place during the 4th annual LAPCS conference on November 11th, 2011 in Baton Rouge.